Sky Kingdom gets more distance in Cougar II Handicap
DEL MAR, Calif. – Sky Kingdom was nominated to both the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap on Saturday and the 1 1/2-mile Cougar II Handicap on Friday, but the more trainer Bob Baffert evaluated the options, the more he thought the longer race was the better race.
“It’s the distance. He’s a one-paced horse,” Baffert said.
The ability to keep going and going should serve Sky Kingdom well on Friday, when he heads the field in the Grade 3, $100,000 Cougar II at Del Mar. He was second in this race a year ago as the even-money favorite and again figures to be favored this time. He carries the top weight of 121 pounds.
Sky Kingdom, 5, has raced just twice since last year’s Cougar II. He was fourth in the one-mile Harry Brubaker at the end of the meet but then needed a lengthy vacation before finally returning earlier this month at Los Alamitos, where he won the American Flag on July 4 going 1 1/16 miles on dirt.
“He didn’t have any surgery. He just came out of his races last year a little jarred up,” Baffert said. “He’s a nice horse – older, more mature.”
Eleven were entered in the Cougar II, but the starting field is expected to be smaller. Soi Phet is likely to scratch from this race in favor of the San Diego, trainer Leonard Powell said. Entries for the San Diego were to be taken Wednesday.
The Cougar II is named for the popular Chilean-bred nicknamed “The Big Cat,” who was a champion and multiple major stakes winner in the early 1970s for trainer Charlie Whittingham. He also sired Gato Del Sol, the 1982 Kentucky Derby winner.
KEY CONTENDERS
Sky Kingdom (Last 3 Beyers: 94-89-99)
◗ Sky Kingdom is winless in four starts on the main track here, but that record is deceptive. His second in last year’s Cougar II was against course specialist Richard’s Kid, a two-time winner of the Pacific Classic, and he came out of his last race here last summer in need of a freshening.
◗ Sky Kingdom has raced twice at 1 1/2 miles. In addition to a second in last year’s Cougar II, he won the Grade 3 Tokyo City at Santa Anita in March 2013.
◗ Baffert said he is using the Cougar II as a prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic for Sky Kingdom.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT:No. 8 Sky Kingdom. Trainer Bob Baffert is 16 for 93 with a $0.94 ROI over the past five years going from dirt to synthetic in routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Longview Drive (Last 3 Beyers: 91-93-84)
◗ Although he has yet to win in eight tries on synthetic surfaces, he has finished in the money six times, and he’s in sharp form, having captured the Oak Tree Handicap at Pleasanton in his most recent start June 21.
◗ Once a sprint specialist, he has developed into a solid middle-distance performer, but he’s never run anywhere close to 1 1/2 miles.
Irish Surf (Last 3 Beyers: 91-81-83)
◗ He’s one of the few who has shown he can handle races at or near this distance, and he has performed well in each of the prior two summers he has been at Del Mar.
◗ After a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Whittingham on the Santa Anita turf in May, he was freshened and pointed for this meet by trainer Dan Hendricks.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT:No. 10 Layton Register. Trainer Philip Oliver is 2 for 6 with a $8.06 ROI over the past two years in races at 12 furlongs or longer. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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